Brendan Rodgers' Fatal Error Concerning Andy Carroll and Liverpool

It appears Brendan Rodgers has made up his mind about Andy Carroll.

It seems that he has come to the conclusion that he is not the type of player who will suit his style of play. It would appear that Rodgers is intent on selling the most expensive British player of all time instead of loaning him out.

In my opinion, this a huge error on the part of Rodgers and one that could affect his success at Liverpool.

Andy Carroll has suffered a rather horrendous time at Liverpool. He arrived injured and took a while to play, in which time Liverpool were playing some very good football. Last summer was supposed to be his chance to gain his fitness and start the new season on fire, however things did not go to plan and Carroll has clearly struggled at Anfield.

A record of six goals in 42 games for Liverpool is a very poor return for such a high price and criticism of Carroll is understandable. 

Yet the blame for Carroll’s poor form must be pointed more at his previous manager. Kenny Dalglish clearly did not believe in Carroll and did not help him in his transition from Newcastle to Liverpool sufficiently enough. A key factor in Carroll’s move was not on the pitch. 

The issue, which so often overlooked in the world of football, is that players are actual people. For Carroll, moving from his hometown and away from family, friends and a different environment and culture must have played its part on his overall enjoyment and satisfaction. 

Whether poor performances led to his environment becoming more difficult or vice versa, the impression is that Carroll was not given what a young player with much-hyped expectations needs, which was someone to help and guide him. Without any help, the media, fans and manager’s expectations of Carroll were clearly too much for him, especially when struggling with injury.

Tactical Flaws

Another key problem for Carroll was the tactics employed by Dalglish and how they affected Carroll’s performances. Carroll was deployed as the quintessential English centre forward, and with the acquisition of Downing, Adam and Henderson (who created the most chances the previous season in the English Premier League), the intention was clear: Feed Carroll with crosses and he will score. 

However, the tactic didn’t work all that well.

Carroll’s success at Newcastle came from being given more freedom to move and drop to receive the ball and spread the ball wide. He was involved in the game and was not just isolated up top. It meant he was harder to mark and was more comfortable on the ball. It also meant he was trusted and given the ball, whereas at Liverpool he was used solely as a target man, effectively being given no trust in having the ball and only being used as battering ram forward.

It is also important to mention Luis Suarez. He is Liverpool’s best player, yet also their most selfish and most difficult to play with. The partnership of these two was not used enough and when it was they were either too far apart to link up together or would be playing their own different games. Suarez is a selfish player, who although skilful, must be difficult to play and build an understanding with, yet he has done that with Cavani for Uruguay.

I do believe that Suarez and Carroll could have improved their level of understanding and gameplay with more time together, which did not happen enough. Again, I blame Dalglish for his constant changing of tactics, formations and the lineup. It could not have been easy and performances and results would indicate this. It is a shame because I believe they would be a very threatening partnership.

Signs of Improvement

It is no surprise that Carroll was poor at Liverpool, with the pressures, isolation and poor tactics all contributing to his poor outcome. Yet towards the end of last season Carroll was showing the level of performance of which was expected of him. He appeared more balanced, confident and relaxed, all of which contributed to his improved performances. Could it have been that after 12 months he had settled and was more comfortable?

We often forget that footballers are young men; he moved at 22 years old for the first time, so it is no wonder it took time to adapt. Yet we judge so quickly and label a player as a flop or failure too quickly. Look at Ronaldo at United; It wasn’t until three or four years in that he started to find his feet. Just because Carroll is English doesn’t mean moving is easy.

Now, just as Carroll appears settled and ready to perform well, he is deemed surplus to requirements because by all accounts his new manager does not believe he can fit in with the new style. This issue will seek to define Rodgers and for me is a big mistake. For me Rodgers is basing his style on Spain and Barcelona. All very well, they are the best sides in the world. Yet like Arsenal have found and Chelsea did with Villas-Boas, replication is not always conducive to success and Rodgers has a big task to succeed at Liverpool.

He will need Carroll to achieve his goals. 

What Are Rodgers Intentions?

If Rodgers decides to play a 4-2-3-1 similar to how Spain played in the Euro’s, then he will be looking for two holding players (Lucas/Gerrard) with four fluid attacking players who are given the freedom to roam, pull defenders away and create and exploit space. The fluidity of the attacking four is something that United did to great effect under Quieroz and that I have credited Germany with mastering in recent years. 

Playing with a false 9, as Barca and Spain do, will for Rodgers be his dream, and this is where I see Suarez/Borini playing. My worry, though, is that Liverpool lack inside forwards like that of David Villa and Pedro, who are able to penetrate behind a defence when a false nine drops in. If the formation works then it allows a team to keep possession and the fluidity makes it hard for defenders to pick up runners and movement, which allows more penetration of defences. 

The fluid attacking foursome appears to be the modern ideal; totalfootball at it’s best. However, it requires a player like Messi to perfect, and as Chelsea and Madrid have shown, without a player like Villa, Sanchez or Pedro making penetrating runs behind, even Messi can struggle.  The issue for Rodgers is that Liverpool do not possess anything close to Messi.

Replicating Barcelona is Folly

In fact, the best way of using the 4-2-3-1 to success has been shown by many more sides, notably Man City, Real Madrid, Dortmund and Bayern. The key to these sides is that they have an out and out forward; whether it is Dzeko, Aguero, Benzema, Higuain, Lewandowski or Gomez, the formation is made for a centre forward to be a target man or a goal scoring centre forward.  They don’t move around as much as a false 9 would. They tend to stay on the defender's shoulder and look to get in behind whether in the air or on the ground. These sides have all been successful because they have these goal scorers in the side. 

Added to this is what comes just behind them. That attacking threesome is the key for a side to be great. Look at the players in these positions from these sides; Silva, Nasri, Ozil, Ronaldo, Kagawa, Robben, Ribery. These are some of the best attacking midfielders in the game today, all with the intention of supplying to the centre forward or scoring goals themselves. They are given the freedom to roam and rotate between themselves, yet their centre forward is often more rigid as the 9. This is where Liverpool will be best suited.

Carroll Able To Fit Role?

Now I have criticized Mario Gomez for Germany in regard to his static positioning, and I stick with this belief in that respect. Gomez does not give players the chance to go beyond or penetrate and instead makes the play predictable. Now my criticism for this style is not that it works—he scored 45 goals last season—it is how beneficial it can be to win. Bayern reached two cup finals and came in second and Germany got to the semifinal. That's not a poor season at all. 

Gomez works for the majority of games and opposition and there is no doubt that he resembles the attributes and characteristics of Andy Carroll. If Rodgers thought seriously about his intentions, which is to challenge for the top four and for me do well in the Europa League, then Andy Carroll in a 4-2-3-1 is the essential formation for him to succeed. Carroll will be vital for him, and yet he is neglecting one of his best weapons because of ideology. It is wrong!

The New Drogba?

Another player who Andy Carroll can be compared to and who he can seek to emulate is perhaps the best striker to play in England in the past decade.

When Didier Drogba arrived at Stamford Bridge he was ridiculed and questioned by the media, yet those difficult periods are almost forgotten now because he has proved his talent and ability and been a fearsome force for Chelsea. He arrived older than Carroll now—he was 26 when he arrived—again showing that judging Carroll at 23 is ludicrous. 

Drogba’s best asset, however, was his manager. Mourinho made him feel the best, gave him confidence and belief in his abilities. My worry for Carroll is that under Dalglish and now under Rodgers, does he have this kind of manager to help him improve and make him feel the best?

My defence for Carroll is based solely on what I have seen. For Liverpool, I have seen him destroy Man City in April 2011 and Chelsea last season in the 4-1 win, where he was unplayable against some of the best defenders in the league. His ability for me is not doubted. What I worry about, for both him and for England, is that he does not receive the plaudits and admiration for what he possesses. 

In England, when we see a tall striker we immediately judge him as a target man, a battering ram. We don’t ask or even care if they can play. Yet when we see Cavani, Llorente or Drogba, we are impressed in their ability on the floor as well as in the air. Carroll has this ability, yet what those other players have had are managers who believe in them, who trust them to be part of the play and not just use them as the “plan b”  of which is talked so much today.

Any Other examples?

Ask many fans this summer who they would seek to have up front for their side next season and you will more than likely hear the names Cavani and Llorente. 

Now call me deluded, but I see so many similarities in Carroll with these two players. Carroll is younger than both these excellent forwards and so he must be judged on his potential as well as present ability. 

Can he develop further? I genuinely believe so. Cavani is 25 and Llorente is 27. In the next several years, can Carroll be as good as them? I believe he can. If he is given the time, patience and trust to develop his skills. Llorente has improved in the last couple of years because he has been the starter and talisman for Bilbao. Under Bielsa he has developed further and his performances in Europe opened up peoples eyes to his talents, which resemble what Carroll can do. In Carroll, Liverpool possess potentially one of the most fearsome forwards in Europe right now.

He is a the finished product, yet he has real potential. 

Rodgers's Big Mistake

Brendan Rodgers, in his desire to rid Liverpool of Andy Carroll, is ruining his chances of succeeding at Liverpool, and for Liverpool fans, they should be worried. The worry is that similar to Villas-Boas last season and Arsene Wenger at Arsenal, that trying to be “Barcelona” is not an easy task, and perhaps near impossible, especially when seeking to win trophies. 

More sides have been successful when possessing excellent centre forwards. Liverpool should feel fortunate that they possess a potentially excellent no. 9 in Carroll to compliment a world class no. 10 in Suarez. If Rodgers fails to see this then he is a man ruled by heart over head, a dangerous precedent to set, one in which the fans of Liverpool and the owners should be very concerned about.

For Andy Carroll, if he is not wanted at Liverpool then he should move somewhere else where a manager will give him the trust and belief to allow Carroll to become the player that he potentially can be.

Carroll may be one the best forwards developed by England in recent years, yet he is being ruined by Liverpool at this time. If they don’t trust him, if they don't believe in his talents and importantly are not willing to educate and develop him, then he should go somewhere where the manager will see his ability and who can create a world class centre forward in the coming years.

If he leaves, it will be Rodgers and Liverpool’s loss and someone else’s gain.  

What do you think? Comment below or find The Whitehouse Address at @The_W_Address